A storage system coupled to a plurality of clients via a communication link includes a first file server including a first switching module and a first resource manager, the first resource manager configured to maintain a first resource table that provides mapping information; a second file server including a second switching module and a second resource manager, the second resource manager configured to maintain a second resource table that provides mapping information; a storage unit including a storage area of first type that is assigned to the first file server and a storage area of second type that is assigned to the second file server, the storage area of first type including a plurality of file systems, each file system having an Internet Protocol (IP) address. The storage area of first type includes first, second, and third file systems having first, second, and third IP addresses, respectively. The first resource table includes first load information, second load information, and third load information that indicate workloads of the first, second, and third file systems, respectively. The first switching module is configured to detach the first file system, so that the first file system could not be accessed by the first file server if it is determined that a workload of the first filer server is heavy.